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EVIL IN THE WORLD. 



ALL theories, ancient and modern, which seek to ex- 

 plain the existence of evil in the world are based 

 mainly on one or other of the following, assumptions : 

 1st. The existence and counteraction to good of a per- 

 sonal evil spirit. 2nd. The repugnancy of matter as 

 the material of creation, or other limitation to the Crea- 

 tive Power. 3rd. The permission or ordination of evil, 

 under general laws, or for purposes designed by the 

 Creator. 



And first, as to the doctrine of a personality of evil. 

 Strange it is that while Christian theologians have at 

 all times been so sedulous to shape their tenets into 

 creeds and formularies, they should have neglected to 

 give clear utterance on a point of such deep interest to 

 the whole history and moral condition of man. A 

 phraseology of belief is maintained without any open 

 expression of it. Satan, the Devil, the Evil One, the 

 Evil Spirit, are some of our now familiar terms, thus 

 translated from the language of Scripture. Why are 

 they not distinctly interpreted to us, either as meta- 

 phorical phrases or as really affirming an individual 

 personal existence ? One or other determination must 

 be true, but which ? The distinction here is far more 

 important than three-fourths of the doctrinal questions 



